Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-03
A CHARGE OF ARSON.
The Trial Of Mtss Mc1sriAe md JooA
McE0Sn0M0s

In the Criminal court Judge Montgomery, suis
morning, the trial OF Mary Jane MoBfide ana John
VI. Mcfarland, on the charge OF afsoo- In ssesng
IRE 10 dwelling house on 18th street. oetween 3
and streets northwest on the 3oth day OF Juns,
1sse, was resumed, and the selection Of JAZZ was
proceeded with. several Of those drawn ysster-
day responded, but most OF them had formed IN
opinion. One OF those summoned, coioesd rwn
could not see well to read and write The district
attorney stated that this Juror was excused py
Judge Macarthur for that reason. MI. Taylor said
that much OF the testimony would be As 20 hand.
to Sit Mr.. Cook thought the handwriting theory
visionary 70 great extent, and the law Old not
make Inability 10 read and write OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:
form an Important feature In the case. The 1uroe
was set aside temporarily.
THE ,uRy COMPLETE.
Mr.. 6. NJ Baldwin was summoned a. Juror ana
accepted. The jury is composed OF Chaa Y. De-
mar. Thos N. Elliott, Leroy C. Bishop. seward
MARKS Wilbur T. Nash, Henry fost, A. A, WsttA
ThoS s. Denham, ChaS B. Church, Benz. w. Cox
Columbus J. Esleh. and Saml. NJ Baldwin.
question Of Moa s' DC eefn MOVED the
Jurors should be questioned IA 10 whether they
could read and write, and this was done.
OPENING STATEMENT or THE PROSECUTING ArToRNfr.
The Jurors were sworn at l045 O'Clock, ana Mr.
A. A Lpscomb, assistant district attorney, opened
the case to the jury, stating that Miss Mcbride
rented the house, purchased about 8, 100 worth
OF furniture, and had paid about 0he-hah
on it; that March, 1886, she obtained an insurance
subsequently much OF the furniture was carried
away. He then described the house and said they
would show that the firing was the act OF On IN:
cendiary; that few days before there was smell
OF coal-oil or turpentine; that within two weeks
Mcfarland purchased $50 worth OF turpentine;
that he carried of the furniture and Miss No
came they could find but $500 worth Of furniture
in place OF the g. 500 that on the day In question
ft,a frnl t.A f1t,e hat
the most elaborate preparations had been made
for firing the house; that IL started from Miss Nc
Sr 1ns sefe was as saes AMY hg
thought that they would prove beyond the
shadow OF a doubt that these parties were guilty.
the burning would not be disputed, but the Ques-
ton was with them as TO who fired the house.
they would show that Mass Mcbride was not hear
there within one and half hours before.
Mr. Taylor, for Mcfarland, followed, stating
a servant In the house, and that he moved tine
furniture at the instance OF Miss Mcbride. He
also expected to show that NsEarands iarniturs
and he had no insurance on II.
THE TESTIMONY.
John NJ. Coyle testified to the correctness OF the
plat OF the building SIS nth street northwest and
described the rooms
w. O. Drew, fire marshal, TESTIFIED that he WIS
at the fire, the alarm being at 10:42 a. M, and
went in the house after the ire When he arrived
the flames were burning rapidly. Noticed in the
back room OF the first story hole cut In the 81 nd.
ding, stuffed with paper saturated with coal-oil
and powdered r0sin. The fire had not reached
this place. The fire seemed to have started In the
north side OF the back room on the first lioor. It
extended up TO the third floor, and he found there
bundle or cord running into q wasnstand In the
second back rOOm where there was a lot OF moth
paper and shucks well saturated with oil and
| Sprinkled with rOsin There was naked mattress
| on bedstead, and this, too had been oiled and
rosined. In a cupboard there was a box with Oil
and rosin On the papers and rags In the back
room on the upper noOr was another mattress
which had been similarly treated There WAS also
pile or papers, with coal-oil and rOsin. in closet
Found no furniture In the back room OF the nrst
floor. The track Of the fire was up the back stair.
way. There was jug or three or four gallons OF
coa-oil In the back room on the main door. Is
quite sure the IRE started up the stairway on the
main floor.
Witness was cross-examined, and testified that
It was up stairs where he found most OF the oiled
and rosned paper, &c.
JOS. Paris chief Of fire department testified that
he was at the fire within three or four minutes
after alarm. The fire appeared TO be I'm the BACK
OF the building, the stairway being In flames The
| nre run up to The upper floor. Got 1t under con-
| troll In 30 or 40 minutes witness described the
hole la the studdng stuffed with oiled paper; mo-
ticed that there was no fire In the stairway below
Drew as to fuse saturated with some OIL on the
third floor, leading from the hall down to dresser
where there was some saturated shucks also the
mattress, the jug, &c. Witness stneled OIL when
he first went In, and at one time was overcome by
| the Oil and